Cheap project P Bass... where to start

[anzoid]

I have no need for one but would like to try a P bass - only ever owned a cheap Westfield B100 that had a rather problematic neck. Apart from that it was quite fun.

I'd kind of like to make a project of it but want to start with something cheap that I can muck around with and upgrade using standard parts - i.e. I'd like to buy something that I could replace the neck on with a fretless neck at some point, so it would need to fit a Mighty Mite neck, or Warmoth or similar Fender standard. Same for scratchplate, pickup and bridge. Over time I'm OK with spending a bit on parts to make something I like, but want to start small.

So, the question - which cheap (under £150, preferably even £100) P bass would make a good starting point? Would another Westfield B1000 be worth tracking down? J&D, Thomann, Gear4Music? Are the bodies on those "Build it yourself" kits any good, and standard sizes...?

All advice welcome!

[gary mac]

I've worked on a couple of Westfields and was impressed with the quality, particularly given its price point. Frets were good. Hardware was adequate. Wiring and pots were the weak point in my opinion but easily remedied.

[alyctes]

I don't know Fenders, but the Westfields I've had have been good value for the price.

The J+D jazz neck I have on a bitsa is OK but the fret ends are a little sharp. (Not like my playing, that;s just tuneless )

[alyctes]

I had a look at my pink Westfield PP and compared it with a Fender MIM J neck. As far as I can tell without actually trying it, the J neck looks to be a perfect drop-in to the Westfield body.

[barkin]

Beware Vintage (brand) instruments. Not that there's anything really wrong with them (perfectly decent Wilkinson hardware) but the neck pocket isn't "standard" Fender sized.

[Rich]

I went the bitsa route. Started off with a Squier Jazz neck I liked, found a cheap solid body on fleabay (the seller measured the neck pocket for me), and went on from there.
How about this as a start?
[url]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283[/url]

[Grangur]

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1479031943' post='3173364']
I went the bitsa route. Started off with a Squier Jazz neck I liked, found a cheap solid body on fleabay (the seller measured the neck pocket for me), and went on from there.
How about this as a start?
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283[/url]
[/quote]

Looks good to me. I'd be inclined to keep both neck and body though, as the neck will be a good fit to the body. (At least to Squier standards), but I guess the OP is looking for a narrower neck.

Edited November 13, 2016 by Grangur

[DarkHeart]

Ive just built this up using parts Ive collected over the years and a body I bought for £40, cheapest Steve Harris P going haha pushed the boat out though, ive bought a Gotoh 201 for it, still only cost £70 for the whole thing.

[URL=http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jeffhop/media/IMG_5540_zpsmhkbfe5x.jpg.html][IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/IMG_5540_zpsmhkbfe5x.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jeffhop/media/IMG_5539_zpszaouez6q.jpg.html][IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/IMG_5539_zpszaouez6q.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1479038684' post='3173436']pushed the boat out though, ive bought a Gotoh 201 for it,

[/quote]

Sincerely hope you're going to plug the original holes & re-drill - you've got string alignment like a proper 70s CBS Fender there!

Very pretty bass.

[DarkHeart]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1479042215' post='3173465']
Sincerely hope you're going to plug the original holes & re-drill - you've got string alignment like a proper 70s CBS Fender there!

Very pretty bass.
[/quote]

will that do?
[URL=http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jeffhop/media/IMG_5542_zpszhvirdi5.jpg.html][IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/IMG_5542_zpszhvirdi5.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[alyctes]

[xroads]

Cheap is relative, but I recently bought a used Squier Affinity bass for around 150, and I am deeply impressed by the performance/price ratio.

[Rich]

This is how my bitsa turned out.

[anzoid]

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1479144568' post='3174306']
This is how my bitsa turned out.


[/quote]

That is very very nice.

Thanks for all the suggestions - gathering ideas together and will soon have a plan...

[lojo]

[quote name='anzoid' timestamp='1478985966' post='3173205']
I have no need for one
[/quote]

That's what I said about a dishwasher

Good luck with the project , P basses are great

[JoeEvans]

I want to do this to - I've developed a long-running fantasy about having a fairly battered orange p-bass, and I think the only way to fulfil it is to build the damn thing myself...

[anzoid]

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1479031943' post='3173364']
I went the bitsa route. Started off with a Squier Jazz neck I liked, found a cheap solid body on fleabay (the seller measured the neck pocket for me), and went on from there.
How about this as a start?
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283[/url]
[/quote]
I'm not a fan of the reliced/roadwarn look, otherwise would have stuck in a bid.

Does anyone know if the body on the Harley Benson PB-20 (https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbp120bk_ebass.htm) is Fender standard size? Looks like it would be a reasonable thing to play whilst in the process of upgrading. Though I've also found a Westfield that looks sweet... in metallic CAR which looks nicer than I imagined it might.